Random highlights from the Algerian media - because English speakers need to follow Algeria news too

Sunday, June 04, 2006

More Algerian national cultural patrimony identified

Jeune Independant reports on cultural preservation efforts. Three "historic centers" to be preserved have been established - the Algiers Casbah, the Old City of Constantine, and the Mzab Valley - while the national commission on cultural goods recommended two other places, the Dellys Casbah and Old Tenes, to add to this list. To the two current cultural parks, the Tassili and the Ahaggar, it recommended adding Tindouf, Touat-Gourara-Tidikelt, and the Saharan Atlas. For archeological preservation, it set aside 40 million dinars for planning the protection of Timgad, Djemila, Qalaat Beni Hammad, and Tipasa, and another 10 million for the Algiers Casbah.

This verdict is potentially good news for the reconstruction of the severely earthquake-damaged Dellys Casbah, but I wouldn't hold my breath.